Is a non-legal internship for Fall 2L year a good idea? Forum

[Connor Benz]

I have a buddy at George Washington who told me he is going to intern on The Hill for Fall. However, he said it is non-legal and that it is with a congressman. I was trying to tell him I did not think it is a good idea. However, it had me thinking, would interning for the fall that is a non legal job a good idea? I actually thought about doing it as well; I'm a just hesitant about it. I mean I won't be able to do a job on The Hill, but is working on The Hill "the exception?'

[Nat Sherman]

Hill internships just consist of answering constituent phone calls and doing other work they'd only give to an undergrad. No point in getting one of those when every single Senator on the Judiciary Committee hires a law clerk for it. If you're going to work on the Hill in law school to say you did it, at least do one you can claim was slightly legal.

[ResIpsa21]

Hill internships just consist of answering constituent phone calls and doing other work they'd only give to an undergrad. No point in getting one of those when every single Senator on the Judiciary Committee hires a law clerk for it. If you're going to work on the Hill in law school to say you did it, at least do one you can claim was slightly legal.

This.

A fair number of people go to GW because they want to get into politics, so if your friend is getting the J.D. so that he can score a gig working as counsel for a member of Congress, working on the hill during the school year could make sense. Politics is all about networking so those people need to make as many connections as possible. But Connor is right that your friend should be doing something legal, not answering phones like a college student. He'd be way better off interning for one of the hundreds of political think tanks or lobbyist organizations.

[Anonymous User]

I am working at a policy NGO for my 1L summer job which is technically not a legal internship.

I am working directly under a lawyer and have done enough specific legal research tasks that I can focus on that part during an interview.


Will update after OCI how this plays out.

[09042014]

I am working at a policy NGO for my 1L summer job which is technically not a legal internship.

I am working directly under a lawyer and have done enough specific legal research tasks that I can focus on that part during an interview.


Will update after OCI how this plays out.

If anyone asks, tell them it was legal.

[09042014]

Fall internships aren't as important as summer, because presumably he also did a legal one this summer. Also worst case you can leave it off your resume.